The William Hoy Story How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game

Winner - 2017 Storytelling World Resource Award Honor Book
Finalist - 2017 North Texas Book Festival Best Children's Books

All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder—eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires' calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William “Dummy" Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time!

The William Hoy Story is also on several book lists:

2016 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
2017 Texas 2x2 Reading List
2017 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List
2017 Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College
2017-2018 Charter Oak Children's Book Award List (Connecticut)
2017-2018 Kennebec Valley Book Award List
2018 Illinois Monarch Award Master List
2018-2019 Louisiana Young Readers' Choice List

Nancy Churnin writes a weekly column about kids' entertainment and is the theater critic for the Dallas Morning News. She also writes a special needs parenting blog. She lives in Texas. Jez Tuya is a self-taught illustrator who grew up in the Philippines. He lives in New Zealand.